Northern flights getaway
For more great holiday ideas, see page 41
spice that a
Doctor Who episode was filmed here. See clearwellcaves. com.
For film connections in the
Forest, Puzzlewood is close, its otherworldly undergrowth and crazy pathways providing the setting for the remake of the Secret Garden. See puzzlewood.net.
Code trips Anglo Saxons and Bletchley
For families who love a bit of code-breaking and history, there are two key attractions in the Midlands to crack on with.
West Stow Anglo-saxon village, near Bury St
HOLIDAYMAKERS in the East Midlands can enjoy the Northern Lights with ease, thanks to Jet2citybreaks. Five flights to the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik will launch from the airport this winter – the best time of year to see the
Edmunds, is one of England’s most important archaeological sites and it is staging a special Lord of the Rings-themed Ring Quest over half term. Complete the quest and find the rings and runes to save Middle Earth. See weststow.org. Not far away, to the west near Bedford, is Bletchley Park, the former top-secret home of our Second World War codebreakers. Now a vibrant museum, its packed half-term calendar sees the popular return of codebreaking challenges in the very place where some of the most secret war codes were broken.
There is plenty to do for a full day out exploring the grounds, with a top-secret mission pack. See bletchleypark.org.uk.
Late nights Yorkshire and Northumberland
The Dark Skies Festival is taking place this half term in the northern National Parks of Yorkshire and spectacular aurora. The three and fournight trips start from £369 and include a guided Northern Lights tour, flights with Jet2.com and airport transfers, as well as a choice of hotels. For more information, see jet2citybreaks.com.
Northumberland. As well as the beautiful scenery during the day, these areas are also noted for their lack of light pollution and the clarity of their air, key ingredients for a great star-gazing experience. See darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk.
But these festivals are about so much more than just looking up at the sky and playing with the settings on your camera.
Activities such as canoeing and long distance running in the dark (yes, really) are catching on, as are star parties – at Keld in Swaledale – and stargazing sleepovers, at the North York Moors Partridge Nest Pods.
One of the highlights of the North York Moors festival will be an evening with Professor Chris Lintott, the BBC’S Sky at Night presenter.
He will be speaking in the small market town of Hemsley about the power of Citizen Science – how anybody can get involved with helping scientists make incredible discoveries.
For tickets, see helmsleyarts.co.uk.